Switch-point lock.



1. T. LAMBERT & c. P. cnowm.

SWITCH, POINT LOGK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE l9. 19H.

Patented July 27, 1915.

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Flhla JOSEPH T. LAMBERT AND CHARLES P. 'CRONIN, 0F DENISON, TEXAS.

SWITCH-POINT LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1915.

Application filed June 19, 1914. Serial No. 846,035.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOSEPH T. LAMBERT and CHARLES P. GnoNIN, citizens of the United States, residing at Denison, in the county of Grayson and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in SwitchPoint Locks, of which the following is a specification. The invention provides novel locking means for securing the movable member of a railway switch, thereby preventing accidents which are occasioned by the movable members of railway switches being loose.

The invention furthermore has for its object to insure the complete throwing of the switch and locking the switch point. The said invention operating separate and apart from the switch stand so as to allow the switch stand to be torn down, broken or unlocked, and together with the safety lock will hold the switch point in the required position.

The invention consists of a switch polnt lock of approximately wedge form and a guide for such lock attached to the switch point and movable therewith and adapted to be positively actuated by means of the switch lock thereby insuring a complete movement of the switch point as well as securing of such switch point,

The invention consists of the novel features, details of construction and combination of parts, which hereinafter Wlll be more particularly set forth, illustrated and claimed.

In the drawings hereto attached, Figure 1 is a top plan view of part of a railway switch showing the switch point, mam ra 1l, switch point lock and guide therefor. Fig 2 is a view of the parts illustrated in Fig. 1 showing the switch point closed against the main rail and locked in position. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line a:a: of Fig. 2.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description, and indicated in all the views of the drawing, by the same reference characters.

The numeral 1 designates one of the rails of the main track and 2 the movable member or point of the switch. The lock of the switch is indicated at 3 and consists of a block of substantially wedge form, said block being mounted to move in a line parallel with the rail 1. The edge of the block 3 adjacent the rail 1 is straight. The outer edge 4 of the block is inclined to the rail 1, thereby giving to the block the approximately wedge shape. Any suitable means may be employed for imparting a rectilinear movement to the block and, as shown, a rod 5 is pivotally connected at one end to the block and its opposite end is connected to a crank 6 at one end of a shaft 7 the opposite end of such shaft having a lever 8 connected thereto. A rocking of the shaft 7 by means of the lever 8 imparts a reciprocating movement to the block 3 through the instrumentality of the rod 5 and crank 6. It is to be understood that the weight of the parts 5, 6 and 8 may be utilized to hold the block in either one of its extreme positions, as indicated inFigs. 1 and 2, but, if preferred any suitable means such as commonly employed in connection with switch stands may be utilized for securing the lever 8 in the required position.

A guide is arranged to cooperate with the switch point 2 and block 3 and consists of a plate 9 which extends beneath the rail 1 and switch point 2. One edge of the plate 9 is bent at an acute angle as indicated at 10 to form a flange which overlaps the flange of the switch point 2 and is riveted or otherwise secured thereto. The opposite edge of the plate 9 is bent upwardly as indicated at 11, thence parallel with the plate 9 as indicated at 12 to overhang the block 3,

and thence downwardly as indicated at 13 to form a tongue to enter a groove 14: formed in the upper side of the block 3 parallel with the inclined edge 41 thereof. The inwardly extending portion 12 of the guide overlaps the block and prevents vertical displacement thereof. The inner edge portion of the block 3 is confined between the foot and ball of the rail 1 and is prevented from vertical displacement thereby. When it is remembered that the outer edge of the block 3 is inclined and that the groove 141 is correspondingly inclined and receives the tongue 13 of the guide, it will be understood that a rectilinear movement of the block in either direction causes the same to operate by a wedging action, thereby insuring a full throw of the switch. When the block 3 is drawn outward as indicated in Fig. 1, the switch point 2 is open to the main rail 1 and closed to the siding or branch in the manner well understood. When the block is moved inward as indicated in Fig. 2 the switch point is drawn close against a side sired as arev within the scope of the invention asclaimed. V

Having thus described the invention,

' what is claimed as new is 1. In a railway switch, the combination of a fixed rail, a movable switch point, a plate extending beneath the rail and transversely movable and attached at one edge to the switch point, and a block mounted upon the opposite end portion of the plate with its inneredge touching the adjacent side of the rail and having a positive interlocking in- I clined connection'with such plate.

2. In a railway switch, the combination of a main rail, a movable switch point, a transversely movable plate extending beneath the main rail and having opposite edge portions'bent, one of such bent edges engaging the foot of the switch point upon the outer side and secured thereto, and a block longitudinally movable upon the opposite end portion of the plate with its inner edge in contact with the rail and having an Copies of this patent may be obtained for inclined interlocking connection with the plate. I

3. In combination, a main rail, a movable switch point, a plate extending beneath the rail and attached near one edge to the switch point and having its opposite edge inclined and formed with an over hanging portion which terminates in a depending tongue extending parallel with the inclined edge of the plate and a block mounted upon said plate and having one edge touching the rail and coming between the ball and foot thereof and having its opposite edge portion under lapping the over hanging portion of the plate and formed with an inclined groove to receive the before mentioned depending tongue at the edge of the overhanging portion of the plate.

4. The combination with a rail and a switch tongue to be thrown against the same, of an arm projecting laterally from the tongue beneath the rail and having its outer end bent upwardly to form a stop and then inwardly to form a retaining finger, a wedge interposed between the rail and said stop and contacting therewith, said wedge being likewise interposed between the arm and the finger and contacting therewith, and means whereby said wedge may be shifted for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH T. LAMBERT. CHARLES P. CRONIN. Witnesses:

V. H. L. DUFUR, E. S. ANDERSON.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. I 

